The Greatest is Love Because God is Love

Our study of 1 Corinthians 13 has explained many traits - patience, humility, courtesy, and generosity, to name a few - and we have determined that each one is a practical expression of love.

"...but the greatest of these is love."

Now that we are at the end of our journey through the chapter, we are told that even among the virtues that endure, love is the greatest. There is a wonderful reason why the Scriptures describe love as the one greatest virtue, and it can be found in the following Bible verses. Let us read carefully and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to our hearts.

1 John 4:7-16, "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him."

Love is the great motivator behind what God did for us. As each of us reflects upon God's involvment in our lives today, we see that love continues to be the reason for His work in us. Because God loves us, we are able to love.

Lord Jesus, thank You for Your love. Thank You for teaching me about Your love. Help me to practice what I have learned. Let my motivation be love. In Jesus' Name, Amen.